Rancho Cuyama (Rojo) facts for kids
Rancho Cuyama (No. 1) was a very large piece of land, about 22,193-acre (89.81 km2), located in what is now eastern Santa Barbara County, California. It was given out as a Mexican land grant in 1843. A "land grant" meant the Mexican government gave someone a large area of land. Governor Manuel Micheltorena gave this land to a person named José María Rojo.
The ranch stretched along the Cuyama River in the Cuyama Valley, close to the towns of Cuyama and New Cuyama. There were actually two main Mexican land grants in this area. Rancho Cuyama (No. 1) was in the north, given in 1843. To the south was Rancho Cuyama (No. 2), which was granted in 1846.
The Story of Rancho Cuyama (No. 1)
José María Rojo received the Rancho Cuyama land grant in 1843. This grant was about five square leagues in size. After Rojo passed away, Rancho Cuyama (No. 1) was sold in 1847. It was bought by a man named Cesario Lataillade.
Cesario Lataillade and His Family
Cesario Armand Lataillade (1819–1849) was a French trader. He was involved in buying and selling animal hides and tallow (animal fat). He arrived in Santa Barbara in 1841. In 1845, he married Antonia María de la Guerra. She was the youngest daughter of a well-known person, José de la Guerra y Noriega.
Lataillade received his own land grant, Rancho Cuyama (No. 2). He also bought other ranches, including Rancho La Zaca and Rancho Corral de Cuati. Sadly, Lataillade died in an accident in 1849. His wife and their two young children inherited his properties. Their children were Maria Antonia Lataillade (born 1846) and Cesario Eugene Lataillade (born 1849).
Changes After the Mexican-American War
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This change happened with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This treaty stated that the existing Mexican land grants would still be honored.
To make sure these land claims were official, the United States passed the Land Act of 1851. This law required people to file claims for their land grants. A claim for Rancho Cuyama was filed in 1852 with the Public Land Commission. This commission helped decide who legally owned the land. Finally, in 1877, the ownership of Rancho Cuyama was officially confirmed. The land was granted to María Antonia de la Guerra y Lataillade.
